In-Home Care for Veterans in Forest City, IA

Local figures

Veterans’ Home Care in Forest City, IA: the local picture

81

veterans aged 65 or older (11% of residents 65+)

756

residents 65 or older (18% of Forest City)

34%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in Winnebago County)

40%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (33% in Winnebago County)

About 81 Forest City residents aged 65 or older are veterans (11% of that age group; 11% in Winnebago County), out of 117 veterans of all adult ages in town.

34% of all residents 65 and older report a disability (30% in Winnebago County); ask the VA whether a veteran’s needs qualify for its home care programs before you hire privately.

Forest City compared with Winnebago County and Iowa

Census figure	Forest City	Winnebago County	Iowa
Residents 65+ who are veterans	11%	11%	15%
Residents 65+ with a disability	34%	30%	30%
Residents 65 or older	18%	22%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	33%	31%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	15%	17%	17%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	12%	8.9%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$35,170	$43,750	—

Older residents in towns around Forest City

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Veterans (65+)
Garner, IA	11 mi	916	14%
Clear Lake, IA	16 mi	2,089	11%
Mason City, IA	23 mi	6,215	15%
Belmond, IA	28 mi	727	12%
Albert Lea, MN	31 mi	4,619	14%
Algona, IA	32 mi	1,383	11%

Hospitals near Forest City

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Hancock County Health System	Britt, IA	13 mi	not rated	(641) 843-5000
Mercyone North Iowa Medical Center	Mason City, IA	23 mi	2 of 5	(641) 428-7000
Iowa Specialty Hospital - Belmond	Belmond, IA	28 mi	not rated	(641) 444-3223

Straight-line miles from the center of Forest City. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a caregiver for a veteran can help with

Company and help around the house
Personal care: bathing, dressing, toileting
Rides to VA and other appointments
Meals and medication reminders

Cost

What veterans’ home care costs in Forest City

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 51% of the $2,931 monthly median income of Forest City households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a caregiver for a veteran

The VA’s Homemaker and Home Health Aide program sends a trained aide, supervised by a registered nurse, to help eligible veterans with daily activities at home. The Aid and Attendance benefit adds monthly payments to a VA pension for veterans who need help with daily activities. The VA Caregiver Support Line is 1-855-260-3274.

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for veterans before? Can you drive to the VA medical center or clinic? Are you comfortable with the paperwork VA programs need? More in our veterans’ home care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Veterans’ Home Care in Forest City: common questions

How much does veterans’ home care cost in Forest City?

At the Iowa median aide wage of $17.34 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,503 a month in wages, which is 51% of the $2,931 monthly median income of Forest City households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. Iowa's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Does the VA pay for in-home care?

For eligible veterans, VA programs such as Homemaker and Home Health Aide care can provide help at home, and Aid and Attendance can add to a VA pension. Ask the VA about eligibility; the Caregiver Support Line is 1-855-260-3274 (caregiver.va.gov).

More near Forest City

More senior care near Forest City

Veterans’ Home Care in nearby cities

Other care in Forest City

More for Forest City families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.